Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in South Africa
South Africa: Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) was 6.20 billion US dollar in 2025. ◆ Volatile
Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in South Africa, 1970–2025
Source: International Monetary Fund. Measured in US dollar.
Analysis
The most recent figure for reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) in South Africa is 6.20 billion US dollar, measured in 2025. That is the highest value across all 53 years on record.
The figure is up 6.9% on the previous year and up 150.2% over ten years.
Over the whole period, reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) in South Africa peaked at 6.20 billion US dollar in 2025 and was at its lowest, 1.13 million US dollar, in 1994.
South Africa ranks 27th of 164 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) in South Africa, year by year
| Year | US dollar | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 39.04 million US dollar | — |
| 1972 | 42.15 million US dollar | +8.0% |
| 1973 | 1.49 million US dollar | -96.5% |
| 1974 | 49.30 million US dollar | +3208.9% |
| 1975 | 42.55 million US dollar | -13.7% |
| 1976 | 40.25 million US dollar | -5.4% |
| 1977 | 39.10 million US dollar | -2.9% |
| 1978 | 51.75 million US dollar | +32.4% |
| 1979 | 33.86 million US dollar | -34.6% |
| 1980 | 46.96 million US dollar | +38.7% |
| 1981 | 134.86 million US dollar | +187.2% |
| 1982 | 109.63 million US dollar | -18.7% |
| 1983 | 32.74 million US dollar | -70.1% |
| 1984 | 2.52 million US dollar | -92.3% |
| 1985 | 5.08 million US dollar | +101.8% |
| 1987 | 1.55 million US dollar | -69.4% |
| 1988 | 1.26 million US dollar | -18.8% |
| 1989 | 1.58 million US dollar | +25.0% |
| 1990 | 2.34 million US dollar | +48.4% |
| 1991 | 1.82 million US dollar | -22.2% |
| 1993 | 12.07 million US dollar | +562.0% |
| 1994 | 1.13 million US dollar | -90.6% |
| 1995 | 4.93 million US dollar | +337.2% |
| 1996 | 1.28 million US dollar | -74.0% |
| 1997 | 9.24 million US dollar | +621.5% |
| 1998 | 185.50 million US dollar | +1906.4% |
| 1999 | 287.76 million US dollar | +55.1% |
| 2000 | 289.62 million US dollar | +0.6% |
| 2001 | 279.47 million US dollar | -3.5% |
| 2002 | 301.74 million US dollar | +8.0% |
| 2003 | 329.82 million US dollar | +9.3% |
| 2004 | 344.76 million US dollar | +4.5% |
| 2005 | 318.58 million US dollar | -7.6% |
| 2006 | 335.15 million US dollar | +5.2% |
| 2007 | 351.98 million US dollar | +5.0% |
| 2008 | 345.30 million US dollar | -1.9% |
| 2009 | 2.79 billion US dollar | +708.9% |
| 2010 | 2.75 billion US dollar | -1.4% |
| 2011 | 2.74 billion US dollar | -0.6% |
| 2012 | 2.81 billion US dollar | +2.6% |
| 2013 | 2.75 billion US dollar | -1.9% |
| 2014 | 2.59 billion US dollar | -5.9% |
| 2015 | 2.48 billion US dollar | -4.3% |
| 2016 | 2.12 billion US dollar | -14.4% |
| 2017 | 2.13 billion US dollar | +0.4% |
| 2018 | 2.08 billion US dollar | -2.3% |
| 2019 | 2.07 billion US dollar | -0.5% |
| 2020 | 2.16 billion US dollar | +4.2% |
| 2021 | 6.19 billion US dollar | +187.0% |
| 2022 | 5.89 billion US dollar | -4.9% |
| 2023 | 5.90 billion US dollar | +0.2% |
| 2024 | 5.80 billion US dollar | -1.7% |
| 2025 | 6.20 billion US dollar | +6.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 37.72 million US dollar | 1.49 million US dollar | 51.75 million US dollar | 9 |
| 1980s | 37.35 million US dollar | 1.26 million US dollar | 134.86 million US dollar | 9 |
| 1990s | 56.23 million US dollar | 1.13 million US dollar | 287.76 million US dollar | 9 |
| 2000s | 568.95 million US dollar | 279.47 million US dollar | 2.79 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2010s | 2.45 billion US dollar | 2.07 billion US dollar | 2.81 billion US dollar | 10 |
| 2020s | 5.36 billion US dollar | 2.16 billion US dollar | 6.20 billion US dollar | 6 |
Countries ranked near South Africa
More financial sector data for South Africa
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per capita 95,301 current LCU per person (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), per unit of GDP 14.44 current LCU per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Net domestic credit (current LCU), annual growth rate 11.21 % change on previous year (2025)
- Gold reserves at 35 SDRs per ounce 141.22 million SDR (2025)
- Gold reserves at market value 12.87 billion SDR (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold, foreign exchange 37.46 billion SDR (2025)
- Reserves excluding gold 42.64 billion SDR (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at market value) 55.51 billion SDR (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) 55.42 billion SDR (2025)
- Total reserves (gold at national valuation) (SDR), per capita 855.88 SDR per person (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) in South Africa?
- Reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) in South Africa was 6.20 billion US dollar in 2025, according to International Monetary Fund.
- What is the highest reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) recorded in South Africa?
- The highest recorded value was 6.20 billion US dollar in 2025.
- What is the lowest reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) recorded in South Africa?
- The lowest recorded value was 1.13 million US dollar in 1994.
- How does South Africa rank for reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs)?
- South Africa ranks 27th out of 164 countries with data for 2025.
- Is reserve assets, special drawing rights (sdrs) rising or falling in South Africa?
- Over the last ten years it is up 150.2%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this South Africa data come from?
- The figures come from International Monetary Fund, published as part of Reserve assets, Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) (Assets, Positions, US dollar). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The International Investment Position (IIP) is a statistical statement that shows at a point in time the value of financial assets of residents of an economy that are claims on nonresidents or are gold bullion held as reserve assets; and the liabilities of residents of an economy to nonresidents.